Composite packing case



Aug. 27, 1957 F. G. BRANDT COMPOSITE PACKING CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1, 1954 fg. z.

A\1827, 1957 F. G. BRANDT COMPOSITE PACKING CASE Filed arch l, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nite States Patent v2,804,253 Bce f Patented Aug. 27, 1*-957 COMPSITE PACKING CASE Frank G. Brandt, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.

Application March 1, 1954, Serial No. 413,242

8 Claims. (Cl. 229-23) This invention relates to packing cases and, in particular, to composite packing cases constructed of fiberboard and wood or other reinforcing members, or using corrugated board.

One object of this invention is to provide a composite packing case composed of iiberboard with elongated reinforcing members of wood or other satisfactory material wherein the article, furniture or `appliance to be packed therein, such as a refrigerator, stove, freezer, water heater, radio or television set, ironer, Washing machine or the like may be firmly bolted or otherwise clamped to a composite base, surrounded by a wrap-around side unit which interts with the base, and may then be closed in by a top unit which interfits with the side unit.

Another object is to provide a composite packing case of the foregoing Icharacter which is composed principally of three separate interlocking units, namely, a bottom unit which supports the article to be packed, a Wraparound side unit, and a top unit, the bottom and top units intertitting with the side unit, these three principal components being capable of being manufactured, shipped and stored separately in a disassembled at condition, occupying a minimum of space, yet being capable of rapid assembly substantially without the use of nails and with the use of a minimum of other fasteners.

Another object is to provide a composite packing case of the foregoing character which is light yet exceptionally strong and capable of adequately protecting an article such as a refrigerator or one of the above-mentioned other articles or appliances, Without damage during shipment or storage, regardless of whether the article and its packing case are placed upright or in a horizontal position or stacked in multiple tiers, one tier upon the other up to as many as four or ve tiers without damage to the articles so packed, shipped or stored.

Another object is to provide a composite packing case of the foregoing character which is cheap in cost and light in weight but adequately rigid to protect the article packed therein without twisting or swerving, yet which employs a minimum of stiffening members of Wood or other suitable material, and is composed principally of berboard, or of corrugated board.

Another object is to provide a composite packing case of the foregoing character wherein the top and bottom units intert with the wrap-around side unit in such a manner that during the packing operation the formerY may be secured to the latter by steel straps in a rapid, eicient and satisfactory manner.

Another object is to provide a composite packing case of the foregoing character wherein the bottom unit is provided with a frame of wood or other suitable material to which the article, such as a refrigerator, maybe securely bolted so as to be substantially inseparable therefrom during shipment or storage. Y

Another object is to provide a composite packing case, as set forth in the object immediately preceding, wherein a wrap-around side unit interiits with the bottom unit and is provided with a spaced pair of vertical back slats connected to each other near their upper ends by a cross slat through which bolts are inserted into the back of the refrigerator or other article, after which the top unit is inserted in the top opening, the three units being then preferably clamped together by steel straps or the like, thereby securely fastening the article both to the bottom unit and to the side unit in a safe and secure manner, yet permitting rapid disassembly and unpacking by cutting the clamping straps and removing the bolts, or by cutting the binding wire, if used.

Another object is to provide a composite packing case of the foregoing character wherein the top unit is also provided with a frame of wood or other suitable material which is preferably notched out to receive the upper ends of the back slats so as to further unite the top andside units and wherein the cross slat interconnecting the' back slats near their tops and a front slat disposed opposite the back slat prevent pushing in of the top unit by other articlesV stacked on top of the article so packed.

Another object is to provide a composite packing case of the foregoing character wherein suicient space is left between the sides of the article and the inner surfaces of the sides `of the side unit for the insertion of padding of berboard or other suitable material, so as to'still further protect the article packed therein from crushing or dentlng.

Another object is to provide a composite packing case of the foregoing character wherein the bottom unit is provided with a framework of mutually perpendicular members which are on two different levels soas to provide space beneath the upper-level members and between the lower-level members perpendicular thereto for the insertion of the forks of so-called fork trucks commonly used in shipping terminals and warehouses for transporting, stacking or arranging the packed articles in such terminals or warehouses, or in shipping vehicles, suchl as freight cars, trucks, semi-trailers, transport aircraft or ships. A

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in horizontal section, along the line 1--1 in Figure 2, of a composite packing case, according to one-form of the invention, with an article such as a refrigerator mounted therein;

Figure 2 is a central vertical section taken along vthe line 2 2 in Figure l; Y i

Figure 3 is a central vertical cross-section taken along the line 3 3 in Figure 1, in a plane at right angles to the section plane of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 2, shown upside down showing the base unit'construction; Y

Figure 5 is a perspective view of abottom unit used in the packing caseof Figures l to 4 inclusive, with the` side flaps of the fiberboard liner at;

Figure 6 is an invertedperspective view of a top unit used in the packing case of `Figures l to 4 inclusive, with the side flaps of the berboard liner likewise ilat before folding; 7 f t Figure 7 is a top plan view 'of a modified' composite packing Vcase generally similar to the packing case of Figures 1 to 5 inclusive also partly in similar horizontal section, but with slightly altered top and bottom units; y

Figure 8 is a central vertical sectionptaken along the line 8-8 in Figure 7; land i 4 Figure 9 is an inverted perspective view of the slightly' 3 modied top unit or a bottom unit used in the modified packing case ret Figures 7 and 8.

Referring to the drawings'in detail, Figures l to 6 inelusive show a composite packing case, generally designated 10, consisting Vprincipally of three main units, namely, atop unit, generally designated 12, a wrap-around sideV unit,` generally 'designated' 1'4, and a bottom unit, generally designated 16,` these three units intertting with one 'anotherduring the packing operation. These three units are composed mainly of fiberboard, corrugated berboard or similarpaper or other fibrous sheet material, strengthened by a minimum `of slats of wood or other suitable material placedfat strategie locations where they will exert-the utmost-strengthening effect at the minimum of cost 'and complexity, as described below.

The bottom unit 16 (shown upside 'down in Figure 5) consistsgenerally of a reinforcing frame 18 and a liner. 20 stapled or. otherwise secu-red to one another, preferably withthe aid ofglue The bottom Vframe 18 consists of a pair of spaced parallel lower cleats 22 and 24 having upper cleats 26 and 28 superimposed upon them slightly inward from their ends and secured to one :another by staples orby other suitable fasteners, such as bolts, screws, nails or the like. Adjacentand beside the ends of the back upper cleat the liner 20is provided with a pair of laterally-spaced rectangular holes 30 through which pass the lower ends of back, slats of the side unit 14as described below. The lower cleats 22, 24 and the upper cleats 26, 28 are on two diierent levels, thereby providing a space 32 betweerrthe cleats 22 and24,` for receiving the forks of afork truck. f i

The bottom liner 20 consists of a cross-shaped panel Y of tberboard orthe like having a central rectangular panel 34, the outer dimensions `of which are substantially the same'as the` outer dimensions ofthe top frame 18, and

The wrap-around side unit 14 (Figures 1 to 4 inclu-4V sive) `consists preferablyv of a single sheet, generally designated 52, which is in turn subdivided into a back panel 54,1parallelsid`e panels56 and S8, and a front panely 60. The panels 54, 56, 58 'and 60 are separated `from one anotherbyxtlattened corner portions 62 formed on quadruple fold lines 64,*V 66, 68V and 70 respectively (Figure 4). The side panel 58 has' anedgeap '61 overlapping the back panel v54 at the rearward edgel thereof. Secured as by stapling to the inside of the back panel 54 are two laterally-spaced parallel backV slats 72 which extend from the upper side ofthe 'bottom unit 16 to and through the top unit 12 with 'their lower' ends 'resting'uponV cleats 22 and 24. of the. bottom `unit16 and seated ini the notches 30 of the-cross cleat 26. VThe back slats Y72 near but slightly below their upper ends are interconnected by a cross slat 74 which extends between inner sides` of the side panels 56 (Figure l). The back slats v72 and cross slat 74 are drilled with aligned holes 76 and 78 for the passage of boltsY 80 which likewisepass` through holes 82 in spacing blocks 84 (Figure 1)before they enter threaded, connections 86 in the .back of the packed article A near the top thereof (Figure 2), the threaded portions 86' being specially provided in the article A for this purpose. Optional additional side slats 88 are s'tapledV or otherwise secured to the inner sides of the side panels 56 and a fronty slat 9!) is stapled or otherwise secured to the 'inside of the frontpahcl 60;..A 1

Four bolt holes 92 are drilledlthrough the frame 18 of the bottom unit 16 in aV rectangular arrangement. The boltfholes-92 at their lower ends, arecounterbored as at i aided by glue.

` shown) 94 to receive the heads of upwardly-extcnding bolts 96 which are either screwed into threaded portions 98 in the bottom of the refrigerator or other article A, orthrough unthreaded holes 98 and surmounted by a nut (not ln this manner, the article A is bolted firmly to the base unit 16 in a Way analogous to the bolting of the back of the article A to the sidevunit 14 by the bolts 80.

The top unit 12 shown in inverted position in Figure 6 consists of atop frame 10) of rectangular form with side cleats 102 and 164 and end cleats 106 and 108 inserted between them in substantially the same plane and secured by staples or other suitable fasteners, preferably The side cleat 104 is provided with spaced notches 110 for receiving the upper ends of the back slats 72 so as to interlock therewith. The top unit 12 likeV the botto-m unit 16 is provided with a crossshaped liner 112 of paperboard or other suitable sheet material, this having flaps which are reverscly folded in the same way and Vhence bear the same reference numerals as the liner 20 of the bottom unit 16. The liner 112 is also similarly stapled to its top frame 10Q;

ln the use of the invention, to pack an article A, such as la refrigerator, in the packing case 10, the article A is placed on its 'side and the bottom unit 16 bolted thereto in the manner described yabove by inserting the bolts 96 through the holes 92 into the holes 98 in the bottom of the refrigerator or other a-rtiele A, the reinforcing frame 18 being placed on the outside and the central panel 34 of the liner`20 inside. The inner portions 46 of the aps 36 and 38 are then folded downward along the side of the sides. of the`frame18 (Figures 2 `and 5) along the inner fold 1ines40,` then bent into a U-shaped formation along the fold lines :42 and 44 to provide the intermediate ilap portion 48 andthe outer flap portion 5t).` The article A and the bottom unit 16 thus attached to it are then tilted back into an upright position resting on the bottom frame 18. f Y

The side unit 174; is then applied to the back of article A with the lower edge -of its Vback panel S4 inserted in the trough 99 between'the inner and outer aps46 and 50.

Y The side and -front panels VS6, 58 and 6l) are then bent at right angles at their corners 62 and their lower edges likewise inserted in their respective troughs `99 while sub s'tantially at the same time the rear flap 61 is 'overlapped with the back panel 54 (Figures l and 4) and their lower edges ,inserted inrtheir respective troughs 99. The ap 61 and back panel 54 at their overlapped locations are then secured to one .another by staples driven through their overlapped Vportions linto the adjacentbackslat 72.

The top unit 12, with its various aps 36` and 38 reversely folded in the manner described in connection with the mounting of the bottom unit 1,6,` is then lowered into Vposition upon. the upper edges of the panels 54, 56, 58 and 60 0f theV side unit 14 with these panels entering the troughs99 between the inner and outer tlaps 46 and 50. The top unit 12 is of course inverted relatively to theV bottom uni`t11'6'so thatthe top frame 100 is upper- .most just as the bottom frame18 of the bottom unit 16 is lowermost. TheV central panel 34 ofthe liner 11-2, which is the same as the bottom liner 20, as stated above, and

' its adjacent notched cleat 1047come to rest upon the cross slat 74 so that the t'op unit 12 'cannot be pushed inward anyjfurther, since its side and front edges are supported bythe upper'ends of the side slats 88 and front slat 90"respectiv`ely (Figures 2 and 3). With the outer flaps 50 pressed rfirmly against their respective lower and upper edge portions of the panels 54, 56, 58 and 60 of Y the sideunit 14, upper and lower binding straps 116 and back. or sides, in any desired manner without injury toJ 'the article. If the article is a refrigerator, which in its usual 'form has a heat exchanger extending vertically up the back wall thereof, this heat exchanger is safely accommodated in the space provided for it by the back slats 72, cross slat 74 and spacing blocks 84, without danger of damage when the packing case containing the `article A is laid on its back. For additional security, the upper and lower ends of the back slats 72 are nailed horizontally into their respective cleats 104 and 26 within the notches thereof, so that the upper and lower units 12 and 16 are additionally tied together in this manner. These nails (not shown), however, are supplementary to the steel straps 116 and 118 and are applied by the purchaser of the packing case 10 at the time of packing his refrigerator or other article A.

The modified packing case, generally designated 120, shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, is generally similar to the packing case 10 of Figures l to 6 inclusive, differing therefrom in the construction of its top and bottom units 122 and 124 respectively, the side unit 126 being substantially the same as the side unit 14. The bottom unit 124 (Figure 9) consists of a rectangular framework 128 composed of side cleats 130 and 132 having their ends super imposed upon end cleats 134 and 136 respectively, with a paperboard liner 133 sandwiched between them, and the whole interconnected by staples or other suitable fasteners, with or without the aid of glue. The paperboard liner 138 is of crossshaped outline with a central rectangular portion 140 of approximately the size of the outside of the bottom frame 128 and with side flaps 142 and end flaps 144 projecting from the edges thereof. The liner 138 is scored as at 146 along this line approximately at the outside of the bottom frame 12S, and the flaps 142 and 144 folded upward therealong so that they lie outside the lower edges of the panels 54, 56, 58 and 66 of the side unit 126 (Figure 8) when these are super-v imposed upon the base unit 124. The cleats 134 and 138 are provided with counterbored bolt holes 148 through which bolts 150 are inserted and threaded into the same threaded portions 98 or through the frame portions of the article or appliance A and sumounted by threaded nuts. The back slats 72 at their lower ends are received in notches 152 in the back cleat 132 in order to interlock the side and bottom units 126 and 124 during packing, as described above in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figures l to d'inclusive.

The top unit 122 is generally similar to the top unit 12 except that its flaps are foldedrsingly and not doubly and reversely as in Figure 6. The top unit 122 therefore has afframe 154 of wood or other suitable material inside its respectiverliner 156, the frame 154 being of the same construction as the top frame 100 of Figure 6, and similarly notched as at 116 to receive the upper ends of the back slats 72. The liner 156 has a central por tion 158 and edge flaps 160 and 162 (Figures 7 and 8) which are folded down outside the upper edges of the panelsof the side unit 126 in an inverted manner to the flaps 142 and 144.

T he use of the modified packing case 12) in packing an article A, such as a refrigerator, follows a similar procedure to that described above in connection with Figures l to 6 inclusive. The bottom unit 124 is bolted to the bottom of the refrigerator or other article A while the latter is on its side, by inserting the bolts 150 in the holes 148. The article, with the bottom unit 124 attached, is then placed upright and the side unit 126 wrapped around the article A after its back slats 72 and cross slat 74 have been bolted by the bolts 80 to the portion 36 of the article A. The top unit 122 is then lowered into position and its iiaps 160 and 162 folded down against the outside of the side unit 126 while the frame 154 fits inside it (Figure 8). The back slats 72 are then preferably nailed into their respective notches 152 by horizontal nails passing through their lower end portions into the bottom cleat 132. Similar nailing is optionally done to secure the upper ends of the back aps 72 in the notches 110 of the cleat 104 thereof, thus interlocking the top, bottom andV side units 122, 124 and 126. Steel binding straps 164 and 166 similar to the binding straps 116 and 113 of Figure 2 are then stretched around the top and bottom units 122 and 124 respectively so as to firmly clamp the upper and lower end portions of the packing case together. The overlapped ends of the straps 164 and 166 are then locked to one another by clips or clamps 168 (Figure 7) and the packed article is ready for shipment. Binding wire may be used instead of these straps. In all places herein where the term iben board is used, it will be understood that the use of corrugated board is also included.

It will be evident that in place of notching the cleats 132 and 139 as at 152 in Figure 9 to receive the back slats 72 and front slat 9i), the upper cleats 130 and 132 may be displaced inward as were the cleats 26 and 28 in Figure 5 for the same reason.

What I claim is:

l. A composite packing case, comprising a bottom unit including a frame having secured thereto a liner of sheet material with flaps adapted to extend upwardly from the edges thereof, means on said bottom unit frame for securing said bottom unit to the article packed in said packing case, a top unit including a frame having secured thereto a liner of sheet material with flaps adapted to extend downwardly from the edges thereof, a side structure including a sheet member having front, back and side walls with the upper and lower edges thereof disposed between the respective edge aps and frames of said units, said side structure having laterally-spaced vertically-disposed back slats secured to said back wall and a cross slat secured between the upper portions of said back slats, the lower ends of said back slats being disposed in overlapping engagement with said bottom unit frame, and means on said cross Slat for securing said side structure to the article packed in said packing case.

2. A composite packing case, comprising a bottom unit including a frame having secured thereto a liner of sheet material with flaps adapted to extend upwardly from the edges thereof, a top unit including a frame having secured thereto ay liner of sheet material with aps adapted to extend downwardly from the edges thereof, a side lstructure including a sheet member having front, back and side walls with the upper and lower edges thereof disposed between the respective edge aps and frames of said units, said side structure having laterally-spaced vertically-disposed back slats secured to said back wall and a cross slat secured between the upper portions of said back slats, and means on said cross slat for securing said side structure to the article packed in said packing case, said top unit frame having recesses therein receiving the upper end portions of said back slats.

3. A composite packing case, comprising a bottom unit including a frame having secured thereto a liner of sheet material with flaps adapted to extend upwardly from' the edges thereof, a top unit including a frame having secured thereto a liner of sheet material with liaps adapted to extend downwardly from the edges thereof, a side structure including a sheet member having front, back and side walls with the upper and lower edges thereof disposed between the respective edge flaps and frames of said units, said side structure having laterally-spaced verticallydisposed back slats secured to said back wall |and a cross slat secured between the upper portions of said back slats, and means on said cross Slat for securing said side structure to the article packed in said packing case, said bottom unit frame having a lower pair of side members and an upper pair of side members superimposed thereon, one of said upper side members having recessesV therein receiving the lower end portions of said back slats.

4. A composite packing case, comprising a bottom unit including a fra-me having secured thereto a liner of sheet material with ilaps adapted to extend upwardly from the extend `downwardlyjfrom the edges thereof, a side structure including a sheet member having front, back and side walls with the yupper and lower edges thereof disposed between the respective edge flaps and frames of said units,` said side structure havinglaterally-spaced verticallydisposed back. `slats secured to said back wall and a cross slat secured between the upper portions of said back slats, and means on said cross slat for securing said side structure to the article packed in said packing case, said bottom unit frame having a lower pair of side members and an upper pair of side members superimposed thereon, one of said upper side members having recesses therein receiving the vlower end portions of said back slats, the lower ends of said back slats resting upon the lower side members.

5. A composite packing case, comprising a bottom unit including a frame having securedthereto a liner of sheet material with ilaps adapted to extend .upwardly from the edges thereof, a top unit including a frame having secured thereto a liner of sheet material with flaps adapted to extend downwardly from theredges thereof, a side structure including a sheet member having front, back and side walls with the upper and lower -edges thereof disposed between the respective edge aps and frames `of said units, said side structure having laterally-spaced vertically-dis posed back slats secured to said back wall and a cross slet secured between the upper portions of said back slats, and means on said cross Slat for, securing said side structure to the article packed in said packing case, said cross Slat being spaced below the upper edge of said sheet member, and said top unit beingtdisposed in the space above said cross slat and resting thereon substantially ush'with said upper edge of said sheet member. Y

6. A composite packingscase, comprising a bottom unit including a frame having secured thereto a liner of sheet material with flaps adapted to extend yupwardly fromfthc edges thereof, a top unit including a frame having secured thereto a liner of sheet material withaps adapted to er tend downwardly from the edges thereof, a side structure including a sheet member having front, `back and side walls with the upper and lower edges thereof disposed between the respective edgeaps and framesof said units, said side structure having laterally-spaced vertically-disposed back slats secured to said back wall and a cross slat secured between the upper portions of said back slats, and vmeans on said cross slat for securing said side structure to the article packed in said packing case, said side structure also having a front Slat secured to the front wall of said sheetv member with the upper end thereof spaced below the upper edge of said front wall, said cross slatbeing spaced below the upper edge of vsaidsheet member, and said top unit being disposed in the space above'saidtcross islat and front slat and resting thereon substantially ush'with said upper edge of said sheet member. v

7. A composite packing case, comprising a bottom unit including a frame having `secured thereto a liner of sheet,

,rrraterial with aps ,adapted to extend upwardly from the edges thereof, a top unit including a frame having secured vthereto a liner of sheet material with aps adapted to ex- 1in substantially the same plane as said side memberssaid cross slat being spaced below the upper edge `of said sheet member, and said top unit being disposed `in the space above said cross slat and resting thereon substantially ush with said upper edge of said sheet member.

8. y A composite packing case, comprising a bottom unit including a frame having secured thereto a liner of sheet material with aps adapted to extend upwardly from the edges thereof, a top unit including `a frame having secured thereto a liner of sheet material` with aps adapted to extend downwardlyfrom the edges thereof, a side structure including a sheet member having front, back and side 'walls with the upper and'lower edges thereof disposed between the respective edge flaps and frames of said units, said side structure having laterally-spaced vertically-disw posed back slats secured to said back wall and a cross slat secured between the upper portions of. said back slats, and means on said cross slat for securing said side structure to the article packed in said packing case, said top unit frame having spaced parallel side members and end members disposed transversely thereto in the space therebetween in substantially the same plane as said side members, said side structure also having a front slat secured to the front wall of said sheet member with the upper end thereof spaced below the upper'edge of said front wall, said cross slat being spaced below the upper edge of said sheet member, and said top unit being disposed in the space above' said cross slat and front slat and resting thereon substantially ush with saidupper edge of said Vsheet member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,177,933 Boeye oct. 31, 1939 2,192,666 noos Mar. 5, 1940 2,314,194 Buch Mar. 16, 1943 2,474,968 y Beach 1 July 5, 1949 2,538,204 Lemon Ianfl, 1951 2,575,784 Baumann s Nov. 20, 1951 2,665,002 Baumann Jan. 5, 1954 -1aoRE1GN PATENTS 23,896l Great Britain of 1914 

